One in ten doctors 'may not have good English'

Last updated at 12:10 05 February 2007

One in 10 doctors allowed to practise in Britain cannot speak good enough English, it has been claimed.

A total of 23,000 medics from Europe are working here without a basic grasp of the language, according to influential health regulators. They are calling for a change to European law to ensure all doctors arriving from the continent undergo language tests.

It comes as a coroner also urged the Government to change the law on foreign doctors being allowed to practise in the UK without taking English tests, following the death of a French GP’s patient.

Westminster Coroner Dr Paul Knapman said he would write to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt after hearing how doctor Bernard Delvigne’s language difficulties led to delays in an ambulance arriving at his surgery in Wimpole Street, central London, following an emergency.

The doctor — who has practised Britain for five years — blamed an operator and told the inquest: "I understand the Oxford accent but not Cockney." A verdict of death by misadventure was recorded.

Under current rules, doctors from Europe can register and treat patients in Britain but do not have to prove they can speak the language, unlike those from other countries.

But there are fears from the General Medical Council patient care may be at risk. A spokeswoman said: "The GMC has consistently pointed out the risk to patient safety and wants to see the law changed."

European rules mean doctors from the continent are exempt from language testing but medics from English-speaking countries such as Australia may have to take the exam.

Latest figures show in July 2006, there were 23,085 doctors — out of 240,000 medics currently working in the country — from the European Economic Area registered to practise in Britain.